In a little over a week, Hogs Haven will be buzzing with news about new Commanders additions in training camp. Naturally, the spotlight will focus the most on returning stars like QB Jayden Daniels, high-profile free agent additions such as OLB Odafe Oweh and TE Chig Okonkwo, and early-round NFL draft picks LB Sonny Styles and WR Antonio Williams.
For some fans, however, the more interesting camp stories are annual battles waged by players on the fringe, fighting their way onto the final 53-man roster
and keeping their NFL dreams alive. Over the years, Washington football fans have witnessed some great camp and preseason stories of underdogs beating the odds, like Alfred Morris, Kyshoen Jarrett, Chase Roullier, Jeremy Reaves and Kam Curl.
Each year at Hogs Haven we celebrate the efforts of early-career roster-fringe players to earn a place on the team – or at least convince us that they will – with the Mason/Brennan Preseason Hype! Award. This year a new crop or fringe hopefuls will try to make their case, along with a host of returning players.
I highlighted the Mason/Brennan-eligible candidates among them in a three-part preview (Front Runners, Chasing Pack, Dark Horses and Long Shots) ahead of OTAs.
This year’s camp promises some interesting position battles at kicker, center, wide receiver and defensive back, with opportunities for fringe-players to earn playing time. Names to watch at those positions include Drew Stevens, Matt Gulbin, Jaden Bradley, Chris Hilton, Malik Spencer, and Fred Davis II. But the real excitement of training camp and pre-season is that you never really know who might emerge from obscurity to claim a position on the final 53.
While most Day 3 draft picks, UDFAs and other players on reserve/futures contracts will never make it as major contributors on an NFL team, it is a lazy take to dismiss their chances. The numbers are stacked against them. But every preseason we see players emerge from the bottom of depth charts to claim roster spots, and sometimes become starters and even stars in the NFL.
To illustrate why every preseason battle deserves attention, this article diverts the spotlight for a moment from the early roster locks to focus attention on players who began their NFL journeys on the fringes, fighting for positions in camp, and went on to earn significant playing time on Super Bowl rosters.
As the Commanders seek to return to the big stage, GM Adam Peters will need to fill out the roster with 53 competitors. As the data in my most recent article revealed, he is unlikely to do that entirely with early-round draft picks, marquee free agents, and trade acquisitions. He will most likely need some help from players who faced an uphill battle to earn their place on the team. To set the stage for battles for the last few places on the roster in camp, let’s take a moment to reflect on the contributions and journeys of former roster-fringe hopefuls to Super Bowl rosters.
Former Roster-Fringe Players on Super Bowl Teams – 2020 to 2025
This piece took its inspiration from the analysis I did for my recent article on how Super Bowl teams acquired their players. One thing which really stood out as I was tracing the players’ journeys was the number of players acquired by Super Bowl teams as late-round NFL draft picks, UDFAs, waiver and practice squad claim, and as fringe free agent signings.
The proportion of former roster-fringe players was particularly enriched among the special teams players. However, most Super Bowl teams had more of these players than I had expected on offense and defense. And the two teams which had made repeat Super Bowl appearances in the sample seemed to be particularly stacked.
To confirm that impression, I broke down the Super Bowl roster data into “Mainstream” and “Roster-Fringe” acquisitions, on offense and defense. As in the previous article, I only included “major contributors” who played 20% or more of offensive or defensive snaps in the Super Bowl. “Mainstream” acquisitions included players drafted in rounds 1-6, veteran free agents and players acquired by trade. “Roster-Fringe” acquisitions included seventh-round draft picks, undrafted free agents acquired in their draft year, players claimed off waivers or another team’s practice squad, and “fringe free agent” signings. The last category was included to capture players signed as free agents in the first three years of their careers with negligible game experience on other teams. Fringe FA is a major acquisition route for special teams players. But only two players made it onto offensive or defensive Super Bowl rosters in this way: DL Cory Durden (Patriots, 2025) and OL Andrew Wylie, (Chiefs, 2020 and 2022).
The following table shows the complete breakdown:
In the six Super Bowls from 2020 through 2025, 48/353 (13.6%) of the major contributors on offense and defense initially made their way onto their team from the roster fringes. The average Super Bowl roster contained four former roster-fringe players on offense or defense. The maximum number was eight (2020 Chiefs) and the minimum was two (2025 Patriots, 2020 Buccaneers). It is worth noting that the decision to only count seventh-round draft picks as roster-fringe was arbitrary. Had I included sixth-round picks, the percentage of former roster-fringe players would have been even larger.
The takeaway message from this analysis is, before anyone dismisses the chances of a seventh-round pick or UDFA making the final 53-man roster, remember, every one of the past 12 Super Bowl teams had at least two players who started out the same way making significant contributions on offense or defense.
Two of the roster-fringe players who made good during this period went on to become stars in the league. Several became starters or major contributors on offense or defense. Even more became important rotational players, backups or special teams contributors. To weather a 17-game season and emerge as a championship contender, an NFL team needs all of the above.
Now, let’s take a look at the journeys of a selection of these players from camp hopeful to the Super Bowl. We’ll end with five players who got their start with the Redskins or ended up on the Commanders’ roster.
Impact Players
QB Brock Purdy, 49ers – The last player drafted in 2022 began his rookie season as an afterthought, buried on the depth chart behind first-round trade target Trey Lance and veteran Jimmy Garoppolo. Following season-ending injuries to Lance in Week 2 and Garoppolo in Week 13, Purdy was named the starter. He led the 49ers to the NFC Championship game, where his season ended with an elbow injury. The following season he led the 49ers back to the big stage, becoming the lowest drafted QB to start in a Super Bowl. Purdy earned a Pro Bowl nomination that season and finished 4th in AP MVP voting.
LT Jordan Mailata, Eagles – Hailing from the Bankstown suburb of Sydney, Australia, Mailata made the jump from the South Sydney Rabbitohs NRL under-20’s team to the NFL International Player Pathway Program. After a summer at the IMG Academy, and despite never having played a down of American Football, he was selected 233rd overall by the Eagles in the seventh round of the 2018 draft.
Mailata took his first regular-season snap in Week 1 of 2020. He got his first start at left tackle in Week 4, filling in for injured starter Jason Peters, and went on to start 10 games until his season was ended by a concussion. The following season he signed a four-year, $64 million contract as the Eagles’ starting left tackle, allowing Peters to leave in free agency. Mailata has become one of the NFL’s best at his position, earning second team All-Pro honors in 2024, when he started in the Eagles’ Super Bowl win over the Chiefs.
Starters and Major Rotational Contributors
S Reed Blankenship, Eagles – Reed Blankenship signed with the Eagles out of Middle Tennessee after going undrafted in 2022. He won a roster spot in camp as a backup safety and special teams player, and started four games in his rookie season. Blankenship won a starting role in his second season which he retained through 2025. He started for the Eagles in the 2024 Super Bowl win.
LB T.J. Edwards, Eagles – T.J. Edwards signed with the Eagles as an UDFA out of Wisconsin following the 2019 draft. In his first training camp, he won the primary backup middle linebacker role behind starter Nigel Bradham. He played 122 defensive snaps in 16 games and 4 starts in his rookie season. In 2020, Edwards beat out Jatavis Brown and Davion Taylor to claim the starting middle linebacker job in training camp. He started three seasons for the Eagles, including playing 100% of defensive snaps in the 2022 Super Bowl loss to the Chiefs. He signed a three-year, $19.5 million contract to start for the Bears in 2023, which was extended for two years and $20 million in 2025.
CB Jaylen Watson, Chiefs – The Chiefs selected Watson 243rd overall in the seventh round of the 2022 draft. He was the third cornerback drafted by the Chiefs that season, after Trent McDuffie (first round) and Joshua Williams (fourth round). Watson won the competition in camp with Williams, Deandre Baker and Rashad Fenton for a backup role and was named the fourth cornerback on the depth chart behind L’Jarius Sneed, McDuffie and Fenton. Following a Week 1 injury to McDuffie, Watson became the starting nickelback. In his first career start on a Thursday night, he recorded four tackles, one pass breakup and a 99-yard pick-six against Justin Herbert.
Watson started for the Chiefs in the Super Bowl LVII victory over the Eagles, the Super Bowl LVIII win over the 49ers, and the Super Bowl LIX loss to the Eagles. At the start of 2026 free agency, Watson signed a three-year, $51 million contract to start for the Rams.
CB Darious Williams, Rams – Williams was initially signed by the Ravens as an UDFA out of the University of Alabama-Birmingham following the 2018 draft. He earned a backup role in camp and was listed as the seventh cornerback on the depth chart to start the season. He was waived after playing one special teams snap to make room for Jimmy Smith on the active roster. The Rams claimed him off waivers and added him to the active roster as the sixth corner. He played in Week 17 on special teams and did not record a stat as a rookie.
In 2019 training camp, Williams won the last roster spot as the sixth cornerback on the depth chart. He played in 12 games, with three starts and recorded two interceptions. In 2020, he earned the CB3 position in camp behind Jalen Ramsey and Troy Hill. He started 10 games in the regular season, recording four interceptions and 14 pass breakups, with two more pass breakups and one pick-six in the playoffs. In 2020, Williams was named the CB2, starting opposite Ramsey. He started 13 regular season games and four playoff games. In Super Bowl LVI, he recorded eight combined tackles and one pass breakup while allowing just two receptions for 24 yards.
In 2022, Williams signed a three-year, $30 million free agent contract with the Jaguars.
WR Jauan Jennings, 49ers – Jennings was drafted by the 49ers with 217th overall pick in the 2020 draft. He was waived and signed to the practice squad before the start of his rookie season. The following offseason he earned a roster spot in camp. By the second half of his second season, Jennings had earned the role as the team’s third receiver. Jennings played 53% of offensive snaps in the Super Bowl LVIII loss to the Chiefs, in which he caught 4-of-5 targets for 42 yards and a TD and threw a 21-yard TD pass to Christian McCaffrey. Jennings has maintained a receiving success rate above 50% in four of five NFL seasons.
DT Moro Ojomo, Eagles – Ojomo is an ascending player, selected 249th overall by the Eagles in the seventh round of the 2023 draft. He played just 68 snaps in eight games as a rookie. In 2024, he became a significant part of the DL rotation, recording 20 combined tackles and five QB hits in the regular season, and playing 45% of defensive snaps in the Super Bowl win over the Chiefs. He had a breakout season in 2025, starting nine games and recording six sacks, 38 combined tackles, 21 stops and 12 QB hits.
iOL Trey Hopkins, Bengals – The Bengals signed Hopkins as an UDFA after the 2014 draft. He spent his rookie season on injured reserve. Hopkins was released during final cuts before the 2015 season and signed to the practice squad. In 2016, he was waived once again during the final cut and then re-signed two days later. He was then released and signed to the practice squad in Week 2. He was promoted to the active roster in late December and saw limited action in the final game of the season.
In 2017, Hopkins started 12 games at right guard. In 2018, he started nine games, six at center and two at guard, in relief of injured starters. In 2019, his fifth season with the Bengals, he was named the starting center, and played 16 games. In 2020, Hopkins signed a three-year, $20.4 million extension. He played all but three games over the next two seasons and was the Bengals’ starting center in the Super Bowl LVI loss to the Rams. He was released and retired after the season.
Fringe Starters/Backups, Special Teamers
S Daniel Sorensen, Chiefs – The Chiefs signed Sorensen as an UDFA after the 2014 draft. He took advantage of opportunities to get playing time in camp and preseason due to injuries to players ahead of him on the depth chart, and earned a roster spot as a backup strong safety for the season opener. He was waived in Week 2 and signed to the practice squad, then promoted back to the active roster on Nov. 1. He finished his rookie season with seven combined tackles in nine games, and was a major contributor on special teams when active.
Sorensen played eight seasons for the Chiefs as a backup safety and core special teamer. He started 14 games in 2017 after starter Eric Berry suffered a torn Achilles tendon. He started 11 games in 2020 and seven games in 2021. Sorenson started for the Chiefs in the Super Bowl LIV win over the 49ers and the Super Bowl LV loss to the Buccaneers, recording six combined tackles in each game.
WR/FB Ben Skowronek, Rams – The 6’3”, 224-pound receiver out of Notre Dame was drafted 251st overall by the Rams in 2021. He played 14 games with one start at WR as a rookie and made 11 receptions for 133 yards in the regular season. He added two receptions for 12 yards in the Super Bowl LVI win over the Bengals. He also played 253 snaps on special teams and finished the season with six tackles and two assists in coverage units.
Skowronek switched to a hybrid WR/fullback role in 2022 and reached his peak as a receiver with 39 receptions for 376 yards in 14 games and 11 starts. In his third season, his playing time in the new role on offense diminished, while his playing time on special teams increased.
In the 2024 offseason, he was traded to the Texans for a sixth-round draft pick, but was waived before the regular season. He was signed by the Steelers to play in a hybrid offensive role and as a core special teamer. In 2025, he earned a Pro Bowl nomination on special teams.
The Washington Connection
RB Samaje Perine, Bengals – Perine was drafted by Washington in the fourth round of the 2017 draft. He was waived prior the 2019 regular season and claimed by the Bengals. After a series of waiver claims by the Dolphins and Bengals, he ended up as a rotational back in Cincinnati for the 2020 season.
Perine singed a two-year extension with the Bengals in 2021. His 41-yard TD reception in the AFC championship game sparked a comeback before half-time to help the team advance to Super Bowl LVI. He had two carries for no gain in the 23-20 loss to the Rams. In 2024, Perine played in his second Super Bowl with the Chiefs. By that stage in his career, he was an established journeyman running back, with rotational value in the passing game and short-yardage situations.
C Austin Reiter, Chiefs – Reiter had a long journey to the big stage after being picked by Washington in the seventh round of the 2015 draft. He spent his rookie season on the practice squad. In 2016, he was claimed from the practice squad by the Browns, but suffered an ACL tear and was released.
In 2018, Reiter was claimed off waivers by the Chiefs and extended after the season. The following year, he started every game at center through the regular and post-season, including the Super Bowl LIV win over the 49ers. He started 15 games for the Chiefs in 2020, including the Super Bowl LV loss to the Buccaneers. He was released after the season, and ended his playing career with five starts for the Dolphins in 2021.
iOL Nick Allegretti, Chiefs – The Chiefs drafted Nick Allegretti in the seventh round in 2019. He played a total of eight offensive snaps in 10 games, backing up starting center Austin Reiter in his rookie season, including five special teams snaps in the Super Bowl LIV win over the 49ers.
In 2020, Nick played in 19 games and started 12 at left guard, including the Super Bowl LV loss to the Buccaneers. He remained with the Chiefs as a backup through his rookie contract, and signed a one-year extension in 2023. He took over at left guard when starter Joe Thuney was injured in the divisional-round playoff game, and started in Thuney’s place for the remaining playoff games. He got his third ring with the Chiefs, starting in the Super Bowl LVIII win over the 49ers, playing most of the game with a torn UCL. The following season, he signed with the Commanders, starting all 20 games and playing 99% of offensive snaps.
He’s now in line to be the Commanders starting center in 2026.
OL Andrew Wylie, Chiefs – Wylie initially signed as an UDFA with the Colts following the 2017 draft. He was released during final roster cuts and spent time on the practice squads of the Colts, Browns and Chargers as a rookie.
In 2018, Wylie signed as a free agent with the Chiefs. He played in 18 games, and started 12 at right guard, including the divisional round playoff and AFC Championship, in place of injured starter Laurent Duvernay-Tardif. He started nine games at left guard and two at right guard in 2019, but missed the final two regular season games and the playoffs with an ankle sprain.
In 2020, Wylie started 14 regular season games and two playoff games at right guard. He moved to right tackle for Super Bowl LV, replacing injured starter Eric Fisher. He started seven games at right tackle the following season.
In 2022, Wylie started all 20 games at right tackle, including the Super Bowl LVII win over the Eagles. He was criticized throughout the season for allowing a high rate of pressure and nine sacks. However, in the Super Bowl, he was part of an OL unit that allowed no sacks against a high powered Eagles’ pass rush.
Wylie has been with the Commanders since 2023, and signed an extension to remain with the team through the 2027 season. He’s expected to be a reserve along the offensive front.
WR Byron Pringle, Chiefs – The Chiefs signed Pringle as an UDFA out of Kansas State following the 2018 draft. He spent his rookie season on IR. In 2019, he made the initial 53-man roster, but was waived and signed to the practice squad in early September. He was elevated to the active roster a week later. He ended up playing in 16 regular season and 3 playoff games as a rookie. He played 15 special teams snaps and three offensive snaps in Super Bowl LIV.
Pringle played in 13 games with three starts in 2020, mainly as a rotational WR and kick returner. He had a kick return TD in Week 7 against the Broncos. He caught the Chiefs’ first reception in Super Bowl LV for three yards, but was only targeted once more in the rest of the game. Pringle peaked as a receiver in 2021, with 42 receptions for 568 yds and five TDs in the regular season and 12 receptions for 82 yds and three TDs in the playoffs. He left in free agency the following year and ended his career with consecutive one-year contracts in Chicago and Washington.
